Nashville Aggravated Assault Lawyer

Aggravated assault is a felony in Tennessee, which is accompanied by imprisonment and steep fines. Whereas simple assault is a misdemeanor offense, aggravated assault is considered a felony in Tennessee.

At Andrew C. Beasley, PLLC, we know that you are facing a challenging time. If you have been charged with aggravated assault, you need a criminal defense law firm that you can count on. Our Nashville, TN, aggravated assault lawyer has experience, combined with passion, in helping anyone who has ended up on the wrong side of the law.

Aggravated Assault Charges and Penalties

In Tennessee, simple assault is defined as causing bodily harm to another. It is a misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a fine of $15,000.

While simple assault comes with harsh penalties, if an assault results in serious bodily injury or death, involves a weapon, strangulation, or attempted strangulation, Tennessee law punishes the offense as aggravated assault. The perpetrator may either knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly commit the assault.

The severity of the charge will depend on the circumstances in your specific situation. A class C felony conviction carries 3-15 years in prison and $10,000 in fines, while a class D felony carries 2-12 years in prison and a fine of $5,000.

Establishing Probable Cause

If a victim alleges assault, the state will press criminal charges against you. If you have been charged with aggravated assault, the district attorney will need to establish probable cause by providing sufficient evidence showing that you committed the alleged offense.

For your case to move to trial, probable cause must be established at the preliminary hearing. Preliminary hearings are normally only conducted in felony cases. If probable cause is established, then your case will proceed to a grand jury hearing. If probable cause is not established, then your case will likely be dismissed.

Proof Required for an Aggravated Assault Conviction

A conviction requires an even higher standard of proof. To convict someone, criminal cases require the prosecution to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In simple terms, beyond a reasonable doubt implies that based on available evidence, a person of reasonable intelligence would have to draw the conclusion that you committed the crime in question.

This is the highest standard of proof in the law, requiring more convincing evidence than in a civil suit.

Aggravated assault is rarely a charge that stands on its own. Related charges may include:

Domestic assault if a weapon was used or serious bodily injury occurred
Resisting arrest if the accused physically fights a police officer
Being under the influence of alcohol and operating a motor vehicle is reckless behavior, so a resulting accident from a DUI can also result in aggravated assault charges.

How Can an Aggravated Assault Lawyer Help Me?

Defending aggravated assault charges can be challenging, so you need to work with an attorney who has experience defending these charges. Our Nashville, TN, aggravated assault lawyer will thoroughly investigate your case to determine if there is sufficient evidence to back up the charges being brought against you.

If there are any weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, Attorney Andrew C. Beasley will discover them and use these “holes” to help strengthen your defense. Each person is bound to remember different aspects of an incident. It is important that the truth is brought to light, which is why you need an experienced aggravated assault lawyer by your side.

Contact our Aggravated Assault Defense Lawyer in Nashville, TN

If you or a family member are facing charges of aggravated assault, now is the time to speak with our Nashville, TN, aggravated assault lawyer. To schedule your free consultation, contact Andrew C. Beasley, PLLC, by filling out our online contact form or by phone.